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Board games are a relatively new passion of mine. I have begun to understand how much they can offer as well as the pleasure and emotion they can elicit. They can take you away from it all, they can be all consuming, and they can take you on a rollercoaster of feelings.
Thinking about it, the same things can be said about my family. So doesn't it make sense to combine playing board games with being with my family? My two favourite things together.
With the recent pandemic and lockdowns, we have spent a lot more time together as a family. This is potentially a good thing if the interaction is positive. Having a 7, 14, and 16-year-old, mean this is not always easy to do. There is the draw of devices and screens as well as the inevitable falling out. So can board games bring the family together? Is it a passion that we can all share?
As a household, we are beginning to collect a range of games and we have played them all as a family. Some work better than others. Some, we return to more than others. All have created positive family moments.
I want to share with you our current top 5 family games. Although, I don’t want to give them that label, as most of the games would hold their own at a gaming group. I want to look past the suggested age ranges and look at how they play with the family. People should consider sharing more ‘grown up’ games with their family. They have so much to offer and provide memorable family moments. Board games open children up to problem solving, reasoning, planning, social interaction, collaboration and patience. So, here are our top 5 family board games.
Ticket to Ride
Ok, Ticket to Ride is not the most in-depth game but I start with this as it was the first game we bought and played as a family and it's a classic. There are tons of reviews out there for you to explore so I won’t delve into how to play it or give a detailed review. I want to consider how well it plays with the family.
Learning to play
Firstly, it is accessible. It is a gateway game after all. The rules are easy to teach and most importantly, you can learn them as you play. There is also the potential for players to develop more complex strategies as they become more confident. My 7-year-old is able to identify routes that incorporate 2 or more tickets whilst looking at how he can get the longest route overall.
Keeping engaged
The turns do not take very long meaning the children do not have to wait for ages for their turn. There is also the need to pay attention to what others do so that you can adapt your strategy if necessary.
Social interaction
Although each player is focussing on their own route plan, there is still a good level of interaction between players. You have to focus when other players lay trains. There is also the potential to discuss strategies and decisions. As a family, we spend very little time sitting quietly during this game.
Does it cause arguments?
Mostly, there is enough space on the board so that another player’s move does not have significant impact on your plans. The board design means that alternative routes can usually be found. There have been times of frustration where one child has ‘stolen’ the route of another but these are often easily overcome.
Replayability
We keep coming back to this game despite it being the oldest in the collection. The fact that it is a lighter game that we know so well, makes it a good choice when we don’t want a game that requires heavy thought. Quick to set up and tear down means it is one of the more accessible games we own. Not a lot of variation between plays means there can be longer periods of it on the shelf.
Family game rating
Easy to access for younger family members. Potential for more complex strategies for older players
8/10
Quacks of Quedlinburg
I bought Quacks based on positive reviews as the quirky push your luck theme. The game has a fun, fantasy medieval feel to it and the artwork is high quality whilst being child friendly. In the game, each person plays as a medical ‘quack’. They try to make the most powerful potion by drawing chips out of their ingredients bag. The more ingredients placed in the cauldron, the more points earned. Draw too many white chips and you explode.
Learning to Play
This is a very quick game to pick up and start playing. The rules are straightforward and easy for the youngest of players to learn. We were playing the game in about 15 minutes.
Keeping engaged
One of the great things about this game is that you all draw your chips together. This means that there is almost no player downtime. It is a fast paced and exciting game with the right level of tension. None of us get bored playing this game.
Social interaction
Strangely, this does not have as much interaction as you would expect. Because each player is absorbed in their own potion making, conversation is limited. However, once play moves out of the potion making phase, players interact. They then discuss their success and what ingredients they will spend their points on.
Does it cause arguments?
What one person choses to do does not greatly affect other players. This means that there is little opportunity to upset someone else’s plans.
There is also a built-in handicap system in the form of ‘rat tails’. The further ahead the leader is on the points track, the more rat tails there are between them and other players. These rat tails covert to bonus spaces in the cauldrons of the trailing players.
This system should stop runaway winners. This is only true if players are honest and don’t peek at their ingredients before pulling them out. As all players are drawing ingredients at the same time, peeking can go unnoticed. Younger players may find it hard to resist a crafty peek.
Replayability
Games are quite short (about 30-45 min). We choose this game if we want something that won’t take up the whole afternoon. It is also very engaging and exciting an the different recipe cards add some variety.
The luck element and lighter strategy means that it may not be a game that you come back to time and time again.
Family rating
This is a really fun game and we have enjoyed it as a family. The temptation to cheat has been too much for some players at times and this can taint the experience. This game is a worthy addition to a family boardgame collection. This is especially worth considering for your first family boardgame.
7/10
A Game of Thrones Catan: Brotherhood of the Watch
Catan is a classic game that is held in high regard by many gamers. GOT Catan adds a different theme as well as extra gameplay elements. GOT Catan can be played using basic Catan rules. You have the option to add the collaborative element of protecting the settlements from the wildlings north of the wall.
Learning to play
Catan is considered a gateway game as the rules are easy to pick up. The simple worker placement and resources management structure makes it very accessible. Adding the GOT rules adds complexity. Once you are familiar with basic Catan, these rules can be easily integrated. Younger players will need some initial support but our 7 year old can successfully play on his own.
Keeping engaged
One of the good thing about this game is that every roll of the dice can impact on every player. This can be by determining what resources can be collected or whether wildlings will invade one of your hexes and stop production. As a result, every player is invested with little downtime.
Social interaction
The potential impact of each dice roll promotes interaction. Also, the trading phase encourages discussions, bartering and compromise. The GOT rules also adds the collaborative element of protecting the wall. This means that there are often conversations about potential breeches and how to prevent them.
Does it cause arguments?
A player can place a settlement that blocks the plans of another. At times the board can get crowded, limiting options. Despite this, unless a player goes out of their way to hinder someone, there are very few moments of conflict. This is because each player is usually focused on strategies that will help them earn more victory points.
Replayability
Despite being able to change the board layout, there seems to be little variability between games. Yet we have played this game a lot and it is one that is still regularly requested. This is down to the accessibility, scope for simple strategy and the mix of collaboration and competitive gameplay. It also seems to hit the sweet spot for game length coming in at around 1 – 1 ½ hrs.
Family rating
Easy to learn with the scope to grow through implication of the GOT rules. The miniatures and other components make it appealing. The simple yet effective gameplay combined with the cooperative elements make this a family favourite
8/10
Wingspan
Wingspan appealed to us due to its mechanics as well as its beautiful appearance. It is an engine building game around the theme of birds. Whilst the theme seems superficial to the gameplay, it adds so much to its aesthetics.
Learning to play
It is fair to say that this could be considered another gateway game. The mechanics are not too complicated and the rules are easy to teach. The first game you play will be a learning game. The starter guides included help to quickly get you into the game.
Keeping engaged
There is a little downtime between players but this is not too much of a problem as turn times are short. There is also the need to think about next moves meaning that each player doesn’t get bored waiting for their turn.
Social interaction
Some of the cards have powers that when activated, affect other players. There is also the communal bird feeder that encourages interaction. There are few elements to the game that actively promote interaction between players. Despite this, we find ourselves discussing each other's engines and strategies.
Does it cause arguments?
The only real potential to hinder another player is to take the food they wanted from the bird feeder. This is rarely an issue as there are regular opportunities to reroll the food dice. This game encourages you to focus on your own bird collection and how you can get the most from their powers. This game has a calming feel to it and the experience of playing outweighs the desire to win.
Replayability
There are loads of bird cards in this game. Your bird collection will be different every time. Strategies will change depending on the birds in your hand as well as the end of round bonus selected. This level of variety combined with how pleasurable it is to play makes it a game we coming back to
Family rating
The beautiful components, look and feel combined with the brilliant how to play guides make this a highly recommended family game. The desire to build a better bird collection and to experience the calm yet thoughtful gameplay keeps drawing us back.
9/10
Scythe
Out of all the games here, Scythe is perhaps the least likely to be considered a family game. Scythe is a critically acclaimed hybrid boardgame involving worker placement, resource management, combat and engine building. It first appears that it is too involved or complex to play with the family but Scythe has a lot to offer.
Learning to play
There is a lot going on in Scythe and this means that it takes time to learn. It can take a couple of games to begin to know what you’re doing but this investment is worth it. One thing that helps with learning the game is the clever way that the pace builds up. To begin with, you are presented with only a few options. As the game progresses, your options increase. The slow start to the game helps players to learn the mechanics and develop strategies without feeling overwhelmed.
Keeping engaged
There can be a bit of a wait between turns, particularly at higher player counts. However, this time is often needed to plan your next move. The choices presented combined with the engaging theme mean that players rarely get bored.
It is worth mentioning that this game looks amazing. The artwork and components are high quality. If you make the effort to upgrade the components, it makes it even more of a pleasure to play. The look and feel of this game really helps to keep the family engaged.
Social interaction
You have to take time to think and plan your strategies. This could create moments where players sit in silence. However, this doesn't seem to happen. This is because each player contributes to a kind of narrative that evolves through the game. The actions of another player, particularly later in the game, can force you to adapt your strategies. This, combined with benefitting from your neighbours actions creates regular interaction.
Does it cause arguments?
There is the option to fight other players. This has the potential to cause disputes, especially if it results in the loss of precious resources. However, the game doesn’t encourage combat as there is usually a penalty involved. This means that conflict rarely happens. Usually, each player is so involved in self-improvement that competitiveness is an afterthought.
Replayability
Every game that we have played has been different. Your given faction and playmat combination as well as the objective cards add variety . What direction you go in and what achievements you work towards changes for each game. There is something so satisfying about building an effective engine that winning becomes a second priority. This game takes a while to play (2 hours at least) but if we have the time, this is the game we go for because it offers the most rewards.
Family rating
This is a firm family favourite and is loved by all of us. Its complexity and learning curve means that it may not be the right choice if you are just starting out in games. If you have more experience and you are prepared to put in a bit more effort, this game will give you a rich and memorable experience.
8/10
